Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A connector for connecting wire conductors to a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit is formed over one member of connector and the wires each have a terminal attached thereto, the terminals positioned in recesses in a second member of connector. Retaining means hold the flexible circuit and the terminals in position. The two connector members clip together to make electrical contact between terminals and flexible circuit. The connector can be arranged to cooperate with formations on a housing to lock two parts of a housing together.

United States Patent Maheux jan. 29, 1974 [5 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 3,432,799 3/1969 Richards et a1. 339/17 r x Inventor: Peter Francis Maheux, Kanata 3,159,447 12/1964 Cnmmms et a1 339/17 F X Ontano Canada Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion [73] Assignee: Bell-Northern Research Ltd., Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sidney T. Jelly [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 ABSTRACT A connector for connecting wire conductors to a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit is formed over one member of connector and the wires each have a termi- [52] US. Cl 339/17 F, 339/95 R I 51 Im. c1. H05k 1/04 Hal attached thereto, the lermlnals Posmoned m reces- 5 1 Field f Search 339 7 18, 5 5 97, 99, ses in a second member of connector. Retaining 3 39 03 17 2 9 means hold the flexible circuit and the terminals in position. The two connector members clip together to 5 References Cited make electrical contact between terminals and flexible UNITED STATES PATENTS circuit. The connector can be arranged to cooperate with formations on a housing to lock two parts of a 3,245,024 4/1966 Evans 339/103 M X housing together 3,188,601 6/1965 De Tar 339/176 MF X 3,702,982 11/1972 Kelly et a1 339/99 R 8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Z\\X\\\\\\ 1K A \\l I 1 I I\ -I2 Y I v 1 PATENTEDJAIZQ 1924 swam-2 Fig. 3

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ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR This invention relates to electrical connectors, and in particular to connectors for connecting wire conductors to flexible circuits.

Various forms of connectors exist for connecting wire conductors to flexible circuits. Soldered joints can be provided but such connections are not readily and easily broken and remade. The wire conductors can be soldered or crimped to the terminal members of one part of a plug connector and the conductors of the flexible circuit can also be soldered or otherwise attached to the terminal member of the other part of plug connector. Such an arrangement is bulky, is often expensive and is time consuming in the making of the solder joints.

The present invention provides a connector which is cheaply and easily produced. A connector comprises a number of parts which clip together and in so doing create connections between wire conductors and conductors of a flexible circuit. Particularly the connector is attached to the end of a wire conductor cable and provides an extension over which is held a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit can be plugged into a socket or over a further member, to contact a further flexible circuit. As an additive feature the connector can also act in a mechanical manner to lock together components of an apparatus housing.

The invention will be readily understood by the following description of certain embodiments, by way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are plan, side and end views respectively of the body portion of a connector;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are plan, side and end views of a retaining member for fitting over one end of the body portion of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are plan, side and end views ofa further retaining member for fitting over the other end of the body portions of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-section through an assembled connector; composed of the parts of FIGS. 1 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section through one form of electrical apparatus, illustrating a connector of the form of FIG. 10 in position; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-section similar to that of FIG. 10, illustrating an alternative form of connector.

The connector illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 connects or joins the individual wire conductors 10 of a cable 11 to a flexible circuit 12 (FIG. 10) retained over an extension 13 of the plug. The extension 13 is intended to be inserted in a further member to make electrical contact between the conductors of the flexible circuit 12 with the conduction of a further flexible circuit. The flexible circuit 12, in the present example, comprises a member of parallel metalstrips -usually copper on a flexible insulating backing. A metal strip is provided for each wire conductor.

The main body portion or member 14 as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a base portion having a plurality of webs 21 extending normal to the surface of the base portion. The webs 21 define a plurality of channels 22 in which are positioned the terminals 23 crimped onto the end of the wire conductors. Extending from the base portion 20 normal to the direction in which extend the webs 21 and in the same direction as the length of the channels 22 is the extension 13. Each terminal 23 has a tongue 25 extending axially, each tongue having a pressure point 26 extending from its bottom surface. The pressure points 26 overlay the conductors of a flexible circuit positioned over the extension 13 and is pressed into contact therewith, as described later. Extending peripherally of the body member, across the base surface or base portion 20, up the sides of the outermost webs 21 and also on the top edges of the webs 21, are small ridges 27. Ridges 27 cooperate with grooves in the other parts of the connector to retain the parts in an assembled condition.

The terminals 23 are held in position in the main body member 14 by a retaining member 30, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Retaining member 30 is of a hollow box-like formation having a sloping back face 3]. This face has a hole 32 therethrough for passage of the cable 11. Extending from the main portion of the retaining member are two parallel webs 33. The dimensions of the retaining member, and particularly the distance between the webs 33, is such that after positioning of the terminals 23 in the channels 22, the tongues 25 overlaying the extension 13, the retaining member can be slid up the cable and the two webs 33 fit over the base portion of the body member. Small grooves 34 in the inner surfaces of the webs 33 engage over the ridges 27 along the top edges of the webs 21 and along the base surface of the base portion 20.

Prior to the assembly of the terminals onto the body member, a strip of flexible circuit, a conductor 12, is positioned over the extension 13 as seen in FIG. 10. After positioning of the terminals in the channels 22 a further retaining member 40 is pushed over the extension 13 and over the tongues 25 of the terminals. As seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 retaining member 40 is generally channel shaped, having a base web portion 41 with two parallel flanges or webs 42 extending therefrom. A web 43 extends from the web portion 41 in a direction opposite to that of the flanges 42 and transverse to the planes of the flanges. The web portion 41 has an aperture 44 therethrough for passage over the extension 13 of the body portion. The retaining member is pushed over the extension 13 holding the flexible circuit 12 firmly in place. As the retaining member is pushed into place the web portion 41 forces the tongues 25 of the terminals 24 into flrm engagement with the flexible circuit, the pressure points 26 being forced into the conductors of the circuit. The flanges or webs 42 have small grooves 45 formed in their inner .surfaces,'the' grooves 45 engage with the ridges 27 on the sides of the outermost webs 21 on the main body portion.

An assembled connector is illustrated in FIG. 10. The flexible circuit, or conductor strip 12 is seen held in place over the extension 13. It will be seen that the pressure points 26 are firmly forced into the conductors of the circuit or strip 12, bythe retaining member 40.'Thecable l1 enters through the hole in the retaining member 30 and to prevent any pull on the cable being transferred to the terminals 23, a stress relieving collar 46 can be crimped onto the cable. The collar 46 has a flange 47 which abuts against the inner surface of the retaining member 30.

A connector as illustrated in FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 11 in position in an apparatus. The apparatus comprises two housings 50 and 51 arranged to cooperate together and form a hollow enclosure. In the enclosure would be mounted electrical components -either individual components or integrated circuits for example. One such typical form of apparatus is a telephone set.

As illustrated the cord or cable 11 enters through a hole in housing 50 into the connector. Moulded into the casing 50 is a guide and locking member 52. Member 52 extends down from the top surface 53 of housing 50 and is tubular in cross-section, having a bore of the size and shape to receive the connector. Attached to the bottom surface of housing 51 is a further guide and locking member 54. Member 54 snaps over a protrusion 55 moulded on the inner surface of the housing 51. Interengaging grooves and ridges, indicated at 56, retain the member 54 in place. The upper portion of the member 54 has an aperture 57 therethrough. The extension 13 of the connector enters this aperture 57 from one end and extends approximately half way through. A connecting member 58 is pushed into the aperture 57 in opposition to the extension 13, the connecting member having a flexible circuit or conductor strip 59 wrapped round before insertion. A contact member 60 is attached to the member 54 in the aperture 57 and spaces both the extension 13 and connecting member 58, making electrical contact with both flexible circuits 12 and 59. The web 43 of the retaining member 40 enters a slot 61 in the member 54.

To assemble, the flexible circuit or conductor strip 59 is first wrapped round the connecting member 58, which is then pushed into the guide and locking member 54. The two housings are brought together and the assembled connector, as in FIG. is pushed in through an aperture 62 in the end of the housing 50. The connector passes through the guide and locking member 52 of the housing 50 and the extension 13 enters the aperture 57 in the guiding and locking member 54 attached to housing 51. The web 53 also enters the slot 61. The two housings are thus locked together and at the same time electrical connection is made with the circuit or conductor 59.

In the arrangement seen in FIG. 11, which is for a telephone set, a microphone is indicated at 70 and a further electrical connection is made with the flexible circuit 59 of the headset by means of an insertable plug 71, which is pushed into a member 72 snapped onto a protrusion 73 on the bottom surface of housing 51. Again member 72 is retained in position by interenga ging ribs and grooves 74.

The connector as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 is a male connector. An alternative arrangement can be to have the connector of female form. One typical example of such a connector is illustrated in FIG. 12. In this arrangement a flexible circuit or conductor strip 80 is positioned over a main body member 81 having an extension comprising two parallel ribs 82. The flexible circuit 80 is held in position by a retaining member 83. Terminals 84 are held in position by a further member 85 which clips onto the body member 81 being retained in position by interengaging ribs and grooves 86. In this particular example, the terminals 84 have tongues 87 which are soldered to the conductors of the flexible circuit 80. However pressure points could be used, as in the connector of FIGS. 10 and 11. In assembling an apparatus the two ribs can be pushed over a member also having a flexible circuit thereon. Thus, for example, in an arrangement as in FIG. 11, it would be possible to position the connecting member 58 with one end extending towards the ends of the housing so that on insertion of a connector of the form of FIG. 12, the ribs or extensions 82 would engage with the end of the connecting member which would be gripped between the ribs 82. This would also mean that the contact member 60, FIG. 11, could be dispensed with.

It will be seen that the invention provides an externally simple connector which is readily assembled and used, can be disengaged and reengaged without difficulty. No sensors or other separate mechanical locking devices are necessary. Further the connector can lock together an assembly, again avoiding screws and the like. Disassembly is easy and quick.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector for connecting the wire conductors of a cable to the conductors of a flexible circuit, comprising:

a body member having a base portion and an extension from said base portion,

a first retaining member fitting over said extension and adapted to retain a length of flexible circuit over said extension;

a plurality of webs extending from said base portion to form a plurality of channels, the axes of the channels extending in the same direction as said extension;

a second retaining member fitting over said base portion and adapted to retain terminals on the ends of said wire conductors in said plurality of channels;

said body member and said retaining members including means for removably retaining the retaining members on said body member.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, said extension extending laterally of said body member, said channels extending side-by-side laterally of the body member.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1, the means for retaining the retaining members on said body member comprising ridges extending circumferentially of said body member and cooperative grooves on said retaining member.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, the body member of rectangular cross-section on a plane normal to the axis of the extension, said first and second retaining members including opposed webs for engagement over said body member, the webs of said first retaining member engaging firstopposed sides of the body member and the webs of said second retaining member engaging second opposed sides of the body member.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, each terminal including an electrically conductive tongue extending axially of the terminal, each tongue overlying the extension on said body member when positioned in a channel; said first retaining member fitting over said tongue and urging the tongue into electrical contact with a conductor on the flexible circuit.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5, each tongue including a pressure point extending from a surface, the pressure point urged into contact with the conductor on the flexible circuit.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 1, said extension comprising two parallel ribs, the first retaining member including a portion positioned between the ribs to retain a fold of said flexible circuit in position between the ribs. t

8. A connector as claimed in claim 1, including a web spaced from and extending parallel to said extension, said web adapted to enter a corresponding aperture in ahousing.

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1. An electrical connector for connecting the wire conductors of a cable to the conductors of a flexible circuit, comprising: a body member having a base portion and an extension from said base portion, a first retaining member fitting over said extension and adapted to retain a length of flexible circuit over said extension; a plurality of webs extending from said base portion to form a plurality of channels, the axes of the channels extending in the same direction as said extension; a second retaining member fitting over said base portion and adapted to retain terminals on the ends of said wire conductors in said plurality of channels; said body member and said retaining members including means for removably retaining the retaining members on said body member.
 2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, said extension extending laterally of said body member, said channels extending side-by-side laterally of the body member.
 3. A connector as claimed in claim 1, the means for retaining the retaining members on said body member comprising ridges extending circumferentially of said body member and cooperative grooves on said retaining member.
 4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, the body member of rectangular cross-section on a plane normal to the axis of the extension, said first and second retaining members including opposed webs for engagement over said body member, the webs of said first retaining member engaging first opposed sides of the body member and the webs of said second retaining member engaging second opposed sides of the body member.
 5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, each terminal including an electrically conductive tongue extending axially of the terminal, each tongue overlying the extension on said body member when positioned in a channel; said first retaining member fitting over said tongue and urging the tongue into electrical contact with a conductor on the flexible circuit.
 6. A connector as claimed in claim 5, each tongue including a pressure point extending from a surface, the pressure point urged into contact with the conductor on the flexible circuit.
 7. A connector as claimed in claim 1, said extension comprising two parallel ribs, the first retaining member including a portion positioned between the ribs to retain a fold of said flexible circuit in position between the ribs.
 8. A connector as claimed in claim 1, including a web spaced from and extending parallel to said extension, said web adapted to enter a corresponding aperture in a housing. 